New Zealand PostFor employing and supporting people with disabilities
New Zealand Post Ltd has demonstrated a strong commitment to employing and supporting people with disabilities. The company's principles include: "To value our people and be a good employer" and "To care for New Zealand through meeting our social obligation."
The company's Equal Employment Opportunity policy precludes discrimination on the basis of, among other things, mental and physical disability. It seeks to adapt the nature of the work or workplace wherever possible, to meet the needs of any employees who are or become disabled, or who need to be rehabilitated in some way.
The company makes considerable efforts to accommodate employees with a wide range of disabilities, including those with significant disabilities such as cerebral palsy. For example, in one centre, a paraplegic postal delivery person has been employed, and a bicycle has been specially adapted. These commitments are long-term ones - one hearing-impaired staff member has been employed for over 40 years.
New Zealand Post is highly regarded by facilitators of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, such as The Edge and Workforce Personnel, from which a representative commented that, "New Zealand Post goes a lot further than most would in accommodating these people. "Co-workers go the extra mile to make these employees feel at home".
This is pioneering work that also provides significant benefits to the company and other stakeholders. Both company and community have benefited: the company from having a loyal and productive staff, while the wider community has benefited directly from having more taxpayers, and indirectly from a higher level of social inclusiveness. This practice of employing and supporting people with disabilities is one in which there has been relatively little knowledge and interest from business but for which structures and support now exist for business to make a much greater investment.
|
 | 
View Video (Windows Media) (604kb) |
